Tag Archive for ICC

| May 19, 2015
No comments

Palestinian Authority advances lawsuits against Israel at ICC for war crimes & construction

Palestinian FM Riad al-Malki says PA submitted request to set date at ICC for alleged war crimes committed by Israel and their settlement expansions.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH, TOVAH LAZAROFF & YONAH JEREMY BOB

 

Authority has submitted an official request to the International Criminal Court to set a date to discuss the possibility of two war-crimes lawsuits against Israel, PA Foreign Minister Riad Malki said on Monday.

Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki (C) leaves the ICC at the Hague, August 5, 2014. – Photo: REUTERS

The Palestinians want the ICC to sue Israel for war crimes it claims were committed during last summer’s Operation Protective Edge and for Jewish building over the 1949 Armistice Line in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , ,
| May 13, 2015
No comments

ICC urges Israel to be forthcoming with material relating to ‘Operation Protective Edge’ probe

Chief ICC prosecutor warns that unless Israel provides the requested information, she may open ‘full-scale’ investigation into Hamas’ allegations of Israeli war crimes during last conflict with Gaza.

By The Associated Press

 

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court warned Israel Tuesday that if it doesn’t provide reliable information for her preliminary probe into possible war crimes in Palestinian territories she may be forced to decide whether to launch a full-scale investigation based on Palestinian allegations.

The International Criminal Court at The Hague – Photo: Gettyimages

Fatou Bensouda said in an interview with The Associated Press that she hasn’t received any information yet from either side regarding last summer’s Gaza war and urged Israel and the Palestinians to provide information to her.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| May 1, 2015
No comments

ICC chief prosecutor says Palestinians may face war crimes investigation

Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda rejected Israeli fears of bias by the court, promising to “look into the alleged crimes committed by all sides.”

AFP

 

The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor has said she is weighing opening war crimes investigations into Palestinians as well as Israelis after Palestine joined the tribunal’s jurisdiction last month.

Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda briefing the Security Council. – UN Photo: Eskinder Debebe

Fatou Bensouda rejected Israeli fears of bias by the court, promising to consider the evidence “independently and impartially without fear or favour,” in an interview published by Israel’s liberal Haaretz newspaper Friday. Continue Reading »

Category: The Diaspora | Tags: ,
| April 5, 2015
No comments

Abbas rejects Israel’s deduction of electricity debt from Palestinian tax revenues

Palestinian president returned transferred taxes because portion was deducted to cover part of huge PA debt owed to Israeli electric company, explaining, ‘Either Israel transfers the funds to us in full, or we go to the ICC.’

By Reuters

 

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday Israel had released frozen tax revenues to the Authority but that he had ordered the funds to be returned because money had been deducted to cover debts to Israeli utility companies.

Palestinian President Abbas – Photo: EPA

Palestinians are believed to owe millions of dollars for use of utilities and hospitals.

Under existing agreements, Israel collects taxes and customs on behalf of the Palestinians and then transfers the sums.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| April 2, 2015
No comments

Israel: With Abbas’ PA in Cahoots With Hamas, it’s Absurdly Hypocritical Going to ICC

Emmanuel Nachshon from Israel Foreign Ministry’s calls the Palestinian decision to join the Int’l Criminal Court “political, cynical & hypocritical.”

By HERB KEINON

 

“Palestine” has no right to join the International Criminal Court, because there is no Palestinian state in accordance with international law, Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nachshon said Wednesday.

ICC Second Vice-President Judge Kuniko Ozaki, in the presence of the President of the Assembly of States Parties, H.E. Sidiki Kaba, presents Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad Al-Malki with a special edition of the Rome Statute. – Photo: ICC

Nachshon said that for this reason, the ICC’s prosecutor erred earlier this year in accepting the Palestinian request for a preliminary examination into alleged war crimes stemming from Operation Protective Edge over the summer. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| April 1, 2015
No comments

State of Palestine officially becomes signatory to ICC

Erekat says ICC probe into Israel is already underway, despite the fact they have no borders, currency, or are recognized by its neighbors, and reports of a deal with Israel to not file charges.

By Ynet & AP

 

The Palestinians officially joined the International Criminal Court at The Hague on Wednesday, a move initiated by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after the failure of the US-brokered peace talks last year.

Abbas, accompanied by Erekat, signing requests to join international institutions in December – Photo: EPA

The televised broadcast in December of Abbas signing applications to join dozens of international institutions, including the ICC, prompted an angry response by Israel, which in January froze the transfer of millions of dollars in tax revenue that Israel had collected for the Palestinians. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| April 1, 2015
No comments

Legal Analysis: Can the ICC rule Jewish settlements as war crimes?

A few Israeli legal experts and state advisors on int’l law present their opinions how the ICC could go after some settlements, if they accepted to hear the case.

By YONAH JEREMY BOB

 

One of the most speculative ideas going around as the PA’s accession to the International Criminal Court Rome Statute is due to go into effect on Wednesday is whether the ICC can go after the settlements as war crimes and how?

West Bank settlement of Ofra north of Ramallah. Photo: REUTERS

Legal considerations aside, the PA reportedly will delay pushing forward with the ICC as part of an informal deal with Israel to receive its custom tax revenue which Israel was withholding and general diplomatic pressure may prevent the Palestinians or the ICC from moving any real cases forward. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| March 25, 2015
No comments

Palestinians Hesitate Due to Serious Backfire at the ICC

Despite a stacked deck against Israel, the International Criminal Court cannot overlook the multitude of indiscriminate attacks on civilians by both Hamas & Fatah, as irrefutable crimes against humanity.

By Gedalyah Reback

 

The Palestinian Authority is far more confident than it was just a few short weeks ago about its diplomatic offensive. With tensions at a purportedly unprecedented level between Jerusalem and Washington, Mahmoud Abbas might think he will get a silent or even overt go-ahead from the United States to pursue its recognition campaign. But the gambit to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) might be the PA’s Achilles‘ heel.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| February 20, 2015
No comments

Leading IDF advocate says Palestinian war crimes charges not a concern

Maj. Gen. Danny Efroni , IDF’s advocate general  says possible investigation by the International Criminal Court into last war with Gaza, ‘Operation Protective Edge’ is being dealt with through ‘full & thorough’ Israeli investigations.

By Associated Press

 

The IDF’s chief legal adviser said on Thursday that he is not concerned about a possible investigation by the International Criminal Court into Israel’s conduct during last year’s Gaza war. Israel’s own internal probes are sufficient, said advocate general Maj. Gen. Danny Efroni.

Maj. Gen. Danny Efroni (2nd from right) tours West Bank – Photo: IDF

The Palestinians recently joined the Netherlands-based court and have threatened to press war crimes charges against Israel there.
Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , ,
| February 3, 2015
No comments

WATCH: UN’s inquiry chief into Gaza conflict, William Schabas to resign

 

William Schabas reports that because allegations of bias due to his previous consultancy work he did for the PLO, he will resign immediately to prevent tainting the inquiry’s report.

By Reuters

 

The head of a United Nations Human Rights Commission inquiry into last summer’s conflict between Israel and Gaza said he would resign following Israeli allegations of bias due to consultancy work he did for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

William Schabas – Screenshot

Canadian academic William Schabas was appointed last August by the head of the UN Human Rights Council to lead a three-member group looking into alleged war crimes during Operation Protective Edge in Gaza. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| January 29, 2015
One comment

Comoros contests ICC’s decision to not investigate Israel for 2010 Gaza flotilla

The small Muslim African country of Comoros seeks International Criminal Court investigation into the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident.

By i24news

 

The African country of Comoros on Wednesday filed a request for the International Criminal Court (ICC) seeking to overturn Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda’s refusal to launch a probe into Israel’s raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla in 2010 in which 10 Turkish activists died. One of the ships in the flotilla was sailing under a Comoros flag.

Mavi Marmara ( )

Mavi Marmara

Last November Bensouda said that there would be no investigation leading to a potential prosecution because the alleged crimes, including the killing of the 10 activists by Israeli commandos, were not of “sufficient gravity.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| January 19, 2015
No comments

Israel’s President Calls on Abbas to Come to Jerusalem Instead of Going to The Hague

At a meeting with American senators in Jerusalem, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin calls on PA Chairman Abbas to renew peace talks.

By Ben Ariel

 

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Sunday urged Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to renew peace talks instead of pursuing efforts at the International Criminal Court (ICC) or United Nations.

“There is no other way than direct negotiations. Unilateral steps will not solve the conflict, but just give more power to the extremists,” Rivlin was quoted by AFP as having said during a visit by a delegation of U.S. senators headed by Republican John McCain.

“I call upon President Abbas: instead of going to The Hague or to the United Nations, come to Jerusalem.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| January 18, 2015
No comments

REPORT: The Palestinian Authority Sends Israel Ultimatum to Stop ICC Probe

‘Carrot & the Stick’ – PA official says Abbas would withdraw war crimes petition at the ICC if Israel stops building ‘settlements’ – and if refused, they will halt all security coordination with Israel.

By Tova Dvorin

 

The Palestinian Authority (PA) may have moved forward with its attempt to prosecute Israel for “war crimes” in the International Criminal Court (ICC) – but it would drop the case if Israel stopped building Jewish communities in Judea-Samaria, a PA official close to Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday.

The senior official, speaking from Ramallah to Walla! News on condition of anonymity, said that the PA has announced the ultimatum through Jordan and Egypt.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , ,
| January 17, 2015
No comments

US condemns ICC over ‘tragically ironic’ war crimes probe of Israel

The U.S. State Dept ‘strongly disagrees’ with ICC prosecutor’s decision, saying it is a “tragic irony” that Israel, which has suffered under thousands of Palestinian rockets fired at its civilian towns & cities, is now itself being scrutinized by the Int’l Criminal Court.

By Yitzhak Benhori

 

The US State Department late on Friday condemned the International Criminal Court’s decision to open a preliminary probe into possible war crimes in Palestinian territories, calling it a “tragic irony.”

International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague – Photo: Shutterstock

“We strongly disagree with the ICC Prosecutor’s action today. As we have said repeatedly, we do not believe that Palestine is a state and therefore we do not believe that it is eligible to join the ICC,” State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said in a statement.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| January 7, 2015
No comments

US State Department: Palestine can’t qualify for ICC membership; it’s not a state

State Department officials examining if Abbas’ PA move violates US appropriations law for maintaining the yearly $400 million Palestinian aid.

By MICHAEL WILNER & YONAH JEREMY BOB

 

WASHINGTON – Palestine is not a state, and therefore does not technically qualify for membership to the International Criminal Court, the State Department said on Wednesday.

Jen Psaki – Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the US would oppose the Palestinian move to join the body, and several others at the United Nations, a step it sees as technically flawed.

“It doesn’t qualify to join the ICC,” Psaki told reporters. Continue Reading »

Category: The Diaspora | Tags: ,
« Older Entries   Recent Entries »